The developer proposing to construct a 180-unit, mixed-use development on the corner of Bennington and Bremen Streets near the Wood Island MBTA station has released an online survey to get feedback from residents on what they would like to see happen at the site.
get feedback from residents on the project.
The survey, which can be found at https://courbanize.com/projects/355bennington/comments?ordering=-created&topic=Community%20Benefits, asks residents what amenities, benefits, changes, additions, retail space uses and improvements that can be made in Day Square to make it more user friendly.
Already 35 residents have responded to the online questionnaire.
“It’s currently an eye sore,” wrote one resident. “It’s also very hard to cross the street near that intersection with the dangerous highway. It feels very unsafe to walk near there at night. Day Square needs some more retail stores, trees, and a clean place for people to congregate. Hoping a project like this will give more access to the square, prevent garbage build up and become a welcoming part of Eagle Hill.”
Another resident wrote the old industrial site is currently a dump, “So anything nice would be an improvement. Would want a nice cafe, clean grocery store, nice greenery / walkways and continued architecture to improve the look and feel of Day Square.”
Developer Redgate submitted a Project Notification Form with the Boston Planning and Development Agency last year and wants to transform a 50,000 square foot lot at 355 Bennington St. into a six-story building containing approximately 180 dwelling units, ground floor retail, accessory parking, and amenities and services for building residents. The rental housing project includes 82 parking spaces and the 7,000 square foot retail space.
The site, that currently houses a single-story commercial business and paved lot, is bounded by Bremen Street, Bennington Street, the Martin A. Coughlin Bypass Road, and Excel Academy Charter School.
Redgate plans to demolish the existing building and construct the new six-story building.
The Boston Zoning Board of Appeals recently rejected a similar large-scale project on Bremen Street just down the road a bit from Redgate’s proposal. Citing a lack of greenspace coupled with the size and scope of the project, the ZBA unanimously rejected the proposed project at 282-302 Bremen St. that would have brought 145 additional units to Eastie.